Granulate production device and method for controlling and / or regulating the granulate production device

Abstract

The invention relates to a granulate production device (1) and methods for controlling and / or regulating the granulate production device (1).

Description

[0001] GLATT Limited Liability Company, Werner-Glatt -

[0002] Street 1, 79589 Binzen

[0003] Granule production device and method for controlling and / or regulating the granulate production device

[0004] The invention relates to a granulate production device, with a granulator having an agitator driven by an agitator drive device, which has at least one granulator inlet for supplying the starting materials, with a screening device connected to the granulator via a granulate feed line, which has a screening chamber delimited by a screen housing, which is divided by a screen into a granulate chamber for receiving the granulate discharged from the granulator and a screening chamber for receiving the screened granulate, wherein the screening chamber is connected to a transfer gas supply line having a feed line inlet, and with a treatment apparatus connected to the screening chamber of the screening device via a granulate transfer line having a transfer line outlet, which treatment apparatus has a treatment chamber,which can be flowed through by a process gas conveyed by a conveying device arrangement on a treatment section from a treatment chamber inlet to a treatment chamber outlet, and wherein a transfer gas can be conveyed by the conveying device arrangement on a transfer gas conveying section extending from the supply line inlet to the transfer line outlet, which is further suitable for conveying the screened granules by means of the transfer gas via the granule transfer line from the screening material chamber of the screening device into the treatment chamber of the treatment apparatus.

[0005] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling and / or regulating a granulate production device, with a granulator having an agitator driven by an agitator drive device, which has at least one granulator inlet for supplying the starting materials, with a screening device connected to the granulator via a granulate feed line, which has a screening chamber delimited by a screen housing, which is divided by a screen into a granulate chamber for receiving the granulate discharged from the granulator and a screening chamber for receiving the screened granulate, wherein the screening chamber is connected to a transfer gas supply line having a feed line inlet, and with a treatment apparatus connected to the screening chamber of the screening device via a granulate transfer line having a transfer line outlet, which treatment apparatus has a treatment chamber,which can be flowed through by a process gas conveyed by a conveying device arrangement on a treatment section from a treatment chamber inlet to a treatment chamber outlet, and wherein a transfer gas can be conveyed by the conveying device arrangement on a transfer gas conveying section extending from the supply line inlet to the transfer line outlet, which is further suitable for conveying the screened granules by means of the transfer gas via the granule transfer line from the screening material chamber of the screening device into the treatment chamber of the treatment apparatus.

[0006] Granule production devices are already known from the prior art. WO 2019 / 105700 A2 discloses a screening device arranged between a granulator and a treatment apparatus designed as a fluidized bed dryer for screening granules, in particular moist or dry granules. The screening device comprises a screen housing having a screen bottom, a screen cover, and a side wall, a granule feed line arranged on the screen housing, a granule transfer line for the screened granules arranged on the screen housing, and a screen arranged in the screen housing, as well as a transfer gas supply line.

[0007] A disadvantage of the granulate production device disclosed in the prior art is that the granulate transfer line connecting the sieve housing of the sieve device and the treatment apparatus designed as a fluidized bed dryer becomes at least partially blocked during the granulate transfer process and, due to the correspondingly necessary cleaning of the granulate transfer line, the granulate transfer process and thus also a granulate production process must be interrupted for the maintenance of the granulate production device.

[0008] The object of the invention is to provide a granulate production device and a method for controlling and / or regulating the granulate production device, which does not require an interruption of the granulate transfer process and the associated granulate production process.

[0009] This object is achieved in a device of the type mentioned at the outset in that the granulation generation device has a measuring device which is suitable for recording a physical variable of the transfer gas from the group of volume flow, mass flow or flow velocity on the transfer gas conveying line. By recording the physical group from the group of volume flow, mass flow or flow velocity on the transfer gas conveying line, detailed information about clogging of the granulate transfer line is determined. This information can be used to continuously clean the granulate transfer line during the granulate transfer process before it becomes blocked, whereby interruption of the granulate production process is not necessary.

[0010] Transfer and / or process gases are gaseous media, preferably air, but also inert gases.

[0011] In a related development of the granulation production device, the measuring device has a measuring device for recording the physical variable of the transfer gas on the transfer gas conveying section, expediently on a transfer gas conveying section assigned to the transfer gas supply line. The measuring device is preferably designed as a thermal mass flow meter, a Coriolis flow meter, a magnetic-inductive flow meter, an ultrasonic flow meter, a vortex flow meter, a differential pressure meter or a flow monitor. The flow sensor S I5000 from ifm electronic grnbh or similar is installed as an example of a flow monitor. By arranging the measuring device designed as a measuring device, the physical variable from the group of volume flow, mass flow or flow velocity can be recorded very easily on the transfer gas conveying section.Ideally, the measuring device is arranged on a transfer gas conveyor section assigned to the transfer gas supply line, since here the corresponding measurement of the physical parameter of the transfer gas can be carried out without great effort due to the transfer gas flow not being laden with granules. According to an additional advantageous design of the granulation generation device, the granulator is designed as a mixing granulator. Mixing granulators, in particular high-shear mixers, have been used for wet granulation for decades, including in the pharmaceutical industry. Today, the robust and reliable mixing granulators, usually designed as vertical granulators, are setting new standards in the pharmaceutical granulation process. They are the first choice especially when a high granulate density and rapid granulation are important in the granulation process.In addition, they require relatively little space, are simple to operate, and are easy to clean. The granulation process refers to the production of the granulate, which begins with the addition of the raw materials and ends with the emptying of the granulator.

[0012] In this regard, the rear drive device advantageously has a substantially constant drive torque across its speed range. This allows the granule properties, in particular the granule particle size, to be influenced and directly adjusted during the ongoing granulation process in the granulator. The provision of a uniformly high drive torque by the rear drive device across its speed range allows the shear forces, which are proportional to the speed n of the rear drive device, to be adjusted during the granulation process in such a way that the granule properties can be directly adjusted. The drive torque is referred to or understood as the physical quantity which, for example, generates torsion or bending of a drive shaft of the rear drive device.It is the product of force [N] and lever arm [m], provided that the force and the lever arm are perpendicular to each other. The drive torque has a unit of energy [1 Nm (Newton meter)]. The drive torque of the drive shaft driving the agitator is proportional to the power output of the rear drive device coupled to the drive shaft, namely P = 2 TT M n with M as drive torque [Nm], n as speed [1 / s], P as power [W] and TT as the number of revolutions.

[0013] According to a further development of the granulation production device, a sieve body is arranged in the granulate chamber of the sieving device in order to convey the granulate from the granulate chamber through the sieve into the material to be screened chamber, wherein the sieve body can expediently be driven by a sieve body drive device designed as a motor. The advantage of the sieve body arranged in the sieve housing is that it enables the granulate to be pressed through the sieve more effectively. The sieving process taking place in the sieving device is thus optimized by the sieve body. Expediently, the sieve body arranged in the granulate chamber is adapted to a granulate chamber design, which further improves the sieving process because the granulate is pressed through the sieve under continuous and constant pressure by means of the sieve body adapted to the shape of the sieve.The sieving process is the screening of the granules in the granulate chamber.

[0014] Furthermore, a rotor disc is preferably arranged in the screening material chamber of the screening device, which rotor disc is expediently driven by a rotor disc drive device designed as a motor. The rotor disc is particularly preferably arranged in the region of a screening material chamber floor. The advantage of a rotor disc arranged in the screening material chamber in the region of a screening material chamber floor is that the screened granulate does not remain on the screening material chamber floor, but is completely discharged from the screening material chamber in the direction of the treatment apparatus.

[0015] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the granulation generation device, the transfer gas supply line is arranged in particular tangentially on a side wall of the sieve housing. Due to the tangential arrangement of the transfer gas supply line on a side wall of the sieve housing, expediently in the region of the sieve material chamber floor, centrifugal forces act on the sieved granules, particularly in the sieve material chamber, which convey them upwards away from the sieve material chamber floor, so that the sieved granules can be discharged more effectively from the sieve material chamber in the direction of the treatment apparatus. This is further promoted by a cylindrical, at least partially conical design of the sieve device. In this regard, the granule transfer line is preferably arranged above the transfer gas supply line on the sieve housing.

[0016] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the granulation generation device, the granulate transfer line is arranged, in particular, tangentially to a side wall of the sieve housing. Such an arrangement of the granulate transfer line improves the discharge of the sieved granulate from the sieved material chamber toward the treatment apparatus, particularly when the transfer gas supply line is simultaneously arranged tangentially to the side wall of the sieve housing.

[0017] In addition, the transfer gas supply line has a filter arrangement at one of its inlets, which is preferably designed as a HEPA filter. HEPA filters are the benchmark for the mechanical purification of transfer gas, particularly transfer air, drawn in from the environment. HEPA generally stands for "High Efficiency Particulate Air." The filter arrangement and the corresponding purification of the transfer gas prevent contamination of the screened granules.

[0018] Preferably, the transfer gas supply line is connected to a process gas supply line, so that process gas can be used as the transfer gas. This ensures that the transfer gas has the same properties as the process gas used to treat the screened granules in the treatment apparatus.

[0019] According to an additional advantageous development of the granulate production facility, the treatment apparatus is designed as a coating apparatus or as a fluidization apparatus. Designing the treatment apparatus as a coating apparatus creates the possibility of directly coating the screened granules, for example, with a protective layer. Designing it as a fluidization apparatus, particularly as a fluidized bed or spouted bed apparatus, also offers the possibility of further treating the screened granules conveyed from the screenings chamber into the treatment apparatus, and preferably producing and coating spherical granules with a precisely defined granulate particle size.

[0020] Furthermore, the conveying device arrangement has a process gas conveying device and / or a transfer gas conveying device. In this regard, the process gas conveying device is advantageously arranged in a process gas supply line upstream of the treatment apparatus and / or a process gas discharge line downstream of the treatment apparatus. The transfer gas conveying device is expediently arranged in the transfer gas supply line. In the preferred embodiment, the conveying device arrangement is designed as a process gas conveying device and is arranged downstream in the process gas discharge line. As a result, a negative pressure can be generated on the transfer gas conveying path, which conveys the screened granulate from the screenings chamber via the granulate transfer line into the treatment apparatus for further treatment.

[0021] According to a further development of the granulation production device, the granulation production device expediently has a control device that expediently has a control functionality, which controls and / or regulates the granulator taking into account the detected physical variable of the transfer gas. In this regard, the control device controls and / or regulates the agitator drive device and / or a granulator outlet closure device. The control device is expediently configured to set a speed of the agitator drive device and / or to open or close the granulator outlet closure device.By controlling and / or regulating the granulation production device, in particular the agitator drive device and / or the granulator outlet closure device, the granulate production process can be divided into sub-processes, particularly those carried out in batches, such as the granulation process, the granulate transfer process, and the granulate treatment process. The granulate production process refers to the entire manufacturing process, namely from the supply of the starting materials to the discharge of the treated granules from the treatment apparatus.

[0022] The granulate transfer process is the transfer of the granulate from the screening chamber into the treatment apparatus, and the granulate treatment process is the treatment of the screened granulate conveyed into the treatment apparatus, which ends with the discharge of the treated granulate.

[0023] According to an additional advantageous development of the granulate production device, the treatment apparatus has an apparatus inlet closure device, wherein in this regard, in particular the control device controls and / or regulates the apparatus inlet closure device. By controlling and / or regulating the apparatus inlet closure device, which is designed in particular as a flap, the treatment chamber of the treatment apparatus is closed off from the granulate transfer line, so that the process gas flows exclusively through the treatment apparatus in order to maintain the granulate treatment process. This preferably ensures that the screened granules are fluidized sufficiently for the granulate treatment process in a treatment apparatus designed as a fluidization apparatus.

[0024] In addition, the treatment apparatus preferably has a process gas supply line in which a process gas flow control device is arranged, wherein the control device expediently controls and / or regulates the process gas flow control device. The process gas flow control device advantageously allows the pressure loss occurring across the treatment apparatus to be adjusted. In particular, the process gas flow control device is used when the apparatus inlet closure device is open for the granulate transfer process, in order to generate a negative pressure on the transfer gas conveying path and expediently to adjust it precisely.

[0025] Furthermore, the granulation production device preferably comprises a plurality of treatment apparatuses and a plurality of granule transfer lines, each treatment apparatus being connected to the screening device via a granule transfer line in order to achieve a quasi-continuous granule production process. This makes it possible to multiply the amount of granules produced in a given period of time and thus reduce production costs.

[0026] Furthermore, the object is achieved in a method of the type mentioned at the outset in that the granulation generation device has a measuring device which, during a granulate transfer process, records a physical variable of the transfer gas from the group of volume flow, mass flow or flow velocity on the transfer gas conveying line. By recording the physical group from the group of volume flow, mass flow or flow velocity on the transfer gas conveying line, detailed information about clogging of the granulate transfer line is determined. This information can be used to continuously clean the granulate transfer line before it becomes blocked during the granulate transfer process, whereby interruption of the granulate production process is not necessary.

[0027] In this regard, the process is preferably carried out as a batch process. According to a particularly preferred process, the granulation production device has a plurality of treatment apparatuses and a plurality of granulate transfer lines, each treatment apparatus being connected to the screening device by means of a granulate transfer line in order to carry out a quasi-continuous granulate production process. By connecting a plurality of treatment apparatuses to the screening device by means of a plurality of granulate transfer lines, it is possible to change the batch-wise granulate production process into a quasi-continuous granulate production process. In this case, the control device supplies the treatment apparatuses one after the other with screened granules in order to produce granules quasi-continuously by means of the plurality of treatment apparatuses.Furthermore, it makes it possible to multiply the amount of granulate produced in a period of time and thus reduce production costs.

[0028] In an additionally advantageously designed method, the granulation generation device has a control device, expediently having a control functionality, to which the detected physical variable is transmitted for further processing, expediently during the granulate transfer process. In this regard, the control device has an evaluation device, which carries out further processing of the detected physical variable of the transfer gas, taking into account the detected physical variable of the transfer gas.

[0029] According to an additional advantageous development of the method, the treatment apparatus has an apparatus inlet closure device, wherein the control device controls and / or regulates the apparatus inlet closure device before the granulate transfer process, so that it is moved from a closed position into an open position.

[0030] According to an additional advantageous development of the method, the treatment apparatus has a process gas supply line in which a process gas flow control device is arranged, wherein the control device controls and / or regulates the process gas flow control device before and / or during the granulate transfer process, so that a negative pressure is formed on the transfer gas conveying path for conveying the screened granulate from the screening material chamber into the treatment apparatus.

[0031] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the method, during further processing of the detected physical variable of the transfer gas, the control device compares it with a first threshold value for the physical variable stored in the control device in order to control and / or regulate the granulate production device by the control device sending a control and / or regulating signal to an agitator drive device and / or granulator outlet closure device in order to set a speed of the agitator drive device and / or to open or close the granulator outlet closure device. In this regard, if the threshold value for the transport gas is undershot, the agitator drive device is stopped and / or a granulator outlet closure device is closed.Preferably, the speed of the agitator drive device increases continuously over time during the granulate transfer process. Furthermore, during further processing the control device compares the recorded physical variable of the transfer gas with a second threshold value for the physical variable stored in the control device, wherein if a second threshold value for the transport gas is exceeded the agitator drive device is started and / or a granulator outlet closure device is opened. The constant and permanent monitoring of the physical variable from the group of volume flow, mass flow or flow velocity by the control device automatically ensures that neither the sieve arranged in the sieve housing of the sieve device nor the granulate transfer line becomes clogged or, in the worst case, blocked, such that the granulate production process has to be interrupted.It is further advantageous if an interruption time is stored in the control device, after which the agitator drive device is started and / or a granulator outlet closure device is opened.

[0032] Preferably, before or during a granulate transfer process, the at least one granulator inlet for supplying the starting materials is closed so that no false air can enter the granulate production device.

[0033] The invention is explained in more detail below using the attached drawing, which shows

[0034] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the granulate production device,

[0035] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a screening chamber of the screening device of a granulate production device,

[0036] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the granulate production device,

[0037] Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the granulate production device,

[0038] Figure 5 is a first schematic diagram of the rotor speed of the agitator rotor and the physical quantity flow velocity over time and

[0039] Figure 6 is a second schematic diagram of the rotor speed of the agitator rotor and the physical quantity flow velocity over time.

[0040] Unless otherwise stated, the following description refers to all embodiments of a preferred granulate production device 1 illustrated in the drawing.

[0041] The granulate production device 1 comprises a granulator 2, a screening device 3, and a treatment apparatus 4, wherein the granulator 2 is connected to the screening device 3 by means of a granulate feed line 5, and the screening device 3 is connected to the treatment apparatus 4 by means of a granulate transfer line 6. The granulation production device 1 expediently also comprises a control device 7 having a control functionality for controlling and / or regulating the granulation production device 1, wherein the control device 7 preferably comprises an evaluation device 61 and / or a database 65.

[0042] The granulator 2, preferably designed as a mixing granulator 66, has at least one granulator inlet 8 for supplying the starting materials AS. Starting materials AS refers to all materials to be supplied to the granulator for granulation during the granulation process, in particular various auxiliary substances, active ingredients, fillers, dyes, disintegration accelerators, and granulation liquid.

[0043] Each granulator inlet 8 can expediently be opened or closed by a granulator inlet closure device 9, the granulator inlet closure device 9 being designed in particular as a granulator inlet closure flap 10 or as a granulator inlet cover 11. In an embodiment not shown, the granulator inlet closure device 9 is designed as a granulator inlet valve. The granulator inlet closure device 9 can be arranged on the granulator 2 or in a starting material supply line 12. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the two granulator inlet closure devices 9 are on the granulator 2; in the embodiments of Figs. 3 and 4, the two granulator inlet closure devices 9 are each arranged in a starting material supply line 12.Furthermore, the granulator inlet closure device 9 is expediently designed to send control or regulating signals to the control device 7 and / or to receive control or regulating signals from it for its control and / or regulation. The control or regulating signals are represented as short dashed arrows.

[0044] The starting materials AS can be granulated by an agitator 13 arranged in the granulator 2 and having an agitator rotor 62, wherein the agitator rotor 62 of the agitator 13 can be driven by an agitator drive device 14, and wherein the rear drive device 14 preferably has a substantially constant drive torque over its speed range. For this purpose, the agitator drive device 14 is preferably designed as a torque motor or electric motor. The agitator drive device 14 is expediently designed to send control or regulating signals to the control device 7 for its control and / or regulation and / or to receive control or regulating signals from this. The control or regulating signals are shown as short dashed arrows.The control device 7 is configured to set a speed n of the agitator drive device 14, expediently to stop the agitator drive device 14 so that the agitator 13 is at a standstill and no granules are discharged from the granulator 2. Furthermore, the granulator 2 has a granulator outlet 15. The granulator outlet 15 optionally has a granulator outlet closure device 16, which is expediently designed as a granulator outlet closure flap 17. The granulator outlet closure device 16 can be arranged at the granulator outlet 15, in the granulate feed line 5 or on the screening device 3. In the embodiment of Fig. 4, the granulator outlet closure device 16 is on the granulator 2 in the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 3, the granulator outlet closure device 16 is arranged on the screening device 3.The granulator outlet closure device 16 is expediently designed to send control or regulating signals to the control device 7 and / or to receive control or regulating signals from it for its control and / or regulation. The control or regulating signals are represented as short dashed arrows.

[0045] The control device 7 is configured to open or close the granulator outlet closure device 16.

[0046] The granulate feed line 5 connects the granulator 2 to the screening device 3 via the granulator outlet 15 and a screening device granulate inlet 18.

[0047] The screening device 3 has a screening chamber 20 delimited by a screening housing 19, which is divided by a screening 21 into a granulate chamber 22 for receiving the granulate discharged from the granulator 2 and a screening material chamber 23 for receiving the screened granulate. A screening body 24 is preferably arranged in the granulate chamber 22 of the screening device 3 in order to convey the granulate from the granulate chamber 22 through the screening 21 into the screening material chamber 23. The screening body 24 can expediently be driven by a screening body drive device 26 designed as a motor 25, and the motor 25 is preferably a torque motor or electric motor. The sieve body drive device 26 is expediently designed to send control or regulating signals to the control device 7 and / or to receive control or regulating signals from it for its control and / or regulation. The control or regulating signals are represented as short dashed arrows.

[0048] In the embodiment of Fig. 1, no sieve body 24 is arranged in the granulate chamber 22 of the sieve device 3, in the embodiments of Figs. 3 and 4, a sieve body 24 is arranged in the granulate chamber 22.

[0049] Preferably, a rotor disk 27 is arranged in the screening material chamber 23 of the screening device 3, which rotor disk can expediently be driven by a rotor disk drive device 29 designed as a motor 28. The rotor disk 27 is arranged in particular in the region 30 of a screening material chamber floor 31. The motor 28 is preferably designed as a torque or electric motor. The rotor disk drive device 29 is expediently designed to send control or regulating signals to the control device 7 for its control and / or regulation and / or to receive control or regulating signals from this. The control or regulating signals are shown as short dashed arrows.

[0050] In the embodiment of Fig. 3, no rotor disc 27 is arranged in the screening material chamber 23, while in the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 4, a rotor disc 27 is arranged in the screening material chamber 23.

[0051] A transfer gas supply line 33 having a supply line inlet 32 ​​is connected to the screening material chamber 23 via a transfer gas inlet 75, wherein the transfer gas supply line 33, in the event that ambient air is sucked in as transfer gas TG via the transfer gas supply line 33, a filter arrangement 34 is arranged at the supply line inlet 32, which is expediently designed as a HEPA filter 35.

[0052] Preferably, as shown schematically in Fig. 2, the transfer gas supply line 33 is arranged in particular tangentially on a side wall 36 of the sieve housing 19. The supply of transfer gas TG improves the transfer of the sieved granules from the sieved material chamber 23 into the treatment apparatus 4. In addition, a gas flow is generated in the sieve housing 19 of the sieve device 3, which minimizes or completely prevents adhesions or deposits of granules on the inner surface of the sieve housing 19. In particular, a preferably lateral, but particularly preferably tangential arrangement of the transfer gas supply line 33 on the sieve housing 19 creates very good flow conditions for the transfer gas TG in the sieve housing 19 to prevent adhesions or deposits of granules in the granule transfer line 6.

[0053] In addition, the screenings chamber 23 of the screening device 3 is connected to a treatment apparatus inlet 48 of the treatment apparatus 4 by means of a screenings outlet 37 and via a granulate transfer line 6 having a transfer line outlet 38. The granulate transfer line is also arranged, as also shown in Fig. 2, in particular tangentially on a side wall 36 of the screen housing 19 of the screenings chamber 23 of the screening device 3. The granulate transfer line 6 is preferably arranged at the same height as the transfer gas supply line 33 on the screen housing 19, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the granulate transfer line 6 is arranged above the transfer gas supply line 33 on the screen housing 19.The treatment apparatus 4, which has a treatment chamber 39, is expediently designed as a coating apparatus 40, in particular as a drum coater 69, or as a fluidization apparatus 41, having a spray device 68 provided with a spray nozzle 67. The fluidization apparatus 40, in turn, is in particular a fluidized bed apparatus 42 or, in an embodiment not shown, a spouted bed apparatus.

[0054] A process gas PG, which is conveyed by a conveying device arrangement 43, can flow through the treatment chamber 39 on a treatment path 53 from a treatment chamber inlet 72 to a treatment chamber outlet 73. In a fluidization device 41, the screened granules conveyed by the transfer gas TG into the treatment chamber 39 of the treatment device 4 are fluidized by the process gas PG and thus further treated, for example during drying and / or coating. The treated granules are discharged from the treatment apparatus 4 via a discharge device 71 having a granule discharge line 70. As shown in the embodiment of Fig. 4, the two fluidization devices 41 of the granule production device 1 have a common granule discharge line 71.

[0055] In addition, a transfer gas TG can be conveyed by the conveying device arrangement 43 on a transfer gas conveying section 52 extending from the supply line inlet 32 ​​to the transfer line outlet 38, wherein the transfer gas TG is suitable during the granulate transfer process for conveying the screened granulate via the granulate transfer line 6 from the screening material chamber 23 of the screening device 3 into the treatment chamber 39 of the treatment apparatus 4. Accordingly, the conveying device arrangement 43 has a process gas conveying device 44 and / or a transfer gas conveying device 45, wherein the process gas conveying device 44 is arranged in a process gas supply line 46 upstream of the treatment apparatus 4, as shown in Fig. 1, and / or in a process gas discharge line 47 downstream of the treatment apparatus 4, as shown in Fig. 4. The process gas conveying device 44 and / or the transfer gas conveying device 45 are preferably designed as a blower 74.If present, the transfer gas conveying device 45 is particularly preferably arranged in the transfer gas supply line 33, as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 1. In the most preferred embodiment, the granulate production device 1 has only one process gas conveying device 44 arranged in the process gas discharge line 47 downstream of the treatment apparatus 4, as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 4.

[0056] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the transfer gas supply line 33 is connected to a process gas supply line 46, so that the process gas PG is used as the transfer gas TG. This is advantageous because the screened granules come into contact exclusively with process gas during the granule production process.

[0057] Furthermore, the treatment apparatus 4 has an apparatus inlet closure device 49 for the treatment apparatus inlet 48. The treatment apparatus inlet 48 can expediently be opened or closed by an apparatus inlet closure device 49, wherein the apparatus inlet closure device 49 is designed in particular as an apparatus inlet closure flap 50. In an embodiment not shown, the apparatus inlet closure device 49 is designed as an apparatus inlet valve. The apparatus inlet closure device 49 can be arranged on the treatment apparatus 4 or in a granulate transfer line 6, wherein an arrangement on the treatment apparatus 4 represents the preferred embodiment. In each of the embodiments shown, the apparatus inlet closure device 49 is arranged on the treatment apparatus 4.Furthermore, the apparatus inlet closure device 49 is expediently designed to send control or regulating signals to the control device 7 and / or to receive control or regulating signals from it for its control and / or regulation. The control or regulating signals are represented as short dashed arrows.

[0058] A process gas flow control device 51 for adjusting the pressure loss occurring across the treatment apparatus 4 is expediently arranged in the process gas supply line 46 of the treatment apparatus 4. The process gas flow control device 51 is expediently designed to send control or regulating signals to the control device 7 for its control and / or regulation and / or to receive control or regulating signals from the control device 7. The control or regulating signals are represented as short dashed arrows.

[0059] Finally, the granulation generation device 1 has a measuring device 54 which is suitable for detecting a physical variable of the transfer gas TG from the group of volume flow, mass flow or flow velocity VTG on the transfer gas conveying line 52. The measuring device 54 is expediently assigned to the screening device 3. Preferably, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the measuring device 54 is arranged on a transfer gas conveying line section 55 assigned to the transfer gas supply line 33. In Fig. 3, the measuring device 54 is arranged in the granulate transfer line 6.

[0060] The measuring device 54 is expediently designed as a measuring device 56 for detecting the physical size of the transfer gas

[0061] 5 This TG is formed on the transfer gas conveying section 52. The measuring device 56 is preferably a thermal mass flow meter, a Coriolis flow meter, a magnetic-inductive flow meter, an ultrasonic flow meter, a vortex flow meter, a differential pressure meter or a flow monitor emitting a Boolean signal, such as the S I5000 flow sensor from ifm electronic grnbh.

[0062] A particularly preferred embodiment of the granulate production device 1 among the embodiments shown is shown in Fig. 4. The granulation production device 1 shown in Fig. 4 has a plurality of treatment apparatuses 4a and 4b and a plurality of granulate transfer lines 6, wherein each treatment apparatus 4 is connected to the screening device 3 by a granulate transfer line 6 in order to achieve a quasi-continuous granulate production process. A granulate transfer line 6 in Fig. 4 forms two granulate transfer lines 6a and 6b. Each of the two granulate transfer lines 6a and 6b has a first, common granulate transfer line section 57 and a second granulate transfer line section

[0063] 58, each of which is assigned to only one treatment apparatus 4. Between the first granulate transfer line section 57 and the respective second granulate transfer line section 58a or 58b, a switching arrangement 60, such as a switchable flap system 61, is arranged at a connection point 59, which is suitable for switching the granulate transfer lines 6a and 6b so that either the treatment apparatus 4a or 4b is filled with screened granulate for further treatment via its corresponding granulate transfer line 6a or 6b. In an embodiment not shown, the plurality of granulate transfer lines 6 are completely separate from one another and do not have a common granulate transfer line section 57.

[0064] In a further embodiment not shown, the granulate production device 1 has three, four, five, six or more treatment apparatuses 4.

[0065] The method for controlling and / or regulating a granulate production device 1 is carried out, among other things, with the following steps, whereby the sequence of the steps cannot be regarded as a chronological sequence. The steps can be carried out in any order and, if necessary, even at the same time.

[0066] - Starting the conveyor arrangement 43 in order to convey process gas PG on the treatment section 53;

[0067] - Adjusting the process gas flow control device 51 to generate a negative pressure on the transfer gas conveying line 52 to convey the screened granules from the screenings chamber 23 into the treatment apparatus 4, expediently before and / or during the granule transfer process;

[0068] - Detecting the physical quantity of the transfer gas TG from the group of volume flow, mass flow, or flow velocity VTG on the transfer gas conveying line 52; - Transmitting the detected physical quantity to the control device 7 for further processing, expediently during the granulate transfer process;

[0069] - Further processing of the recorded physical quantity of the transfer gas by the control device 7, e.g. storage, evaluation or the like;

[0070] - evaluating, in particular comparing, with a threshold value 63, the physical variable of the transfer gas TG detected on the transfer gas conveying path 43 from the group of volume flow, mass flow or flow velocity VTG in the evaluation device 61 of the control device 7;

[0071] - Opening each granulator inlet closure device 9 for supplying the starting materials AS;

[0072] - filling the granulator 2 with starting materials AS via at least one granulator inlet 8 and producing a granulate;

[0073] - Closing the at least one granulator inlet 8 for supplying the starting materials AS, in particular each granulator inlet closure device 9, before or during a granulate transfer process, so that no false air can enter the granulate production device;

[0074] - Discharge of the granulate produced in the granulator 2 into the screening device 3, in particular by means of agitator 13;

[0075] Control and / or regulation of the agitator 13 by means of the agitator drive device 14; Control and / or regulation of the granulator outlet closure device 16;

[0076] - sieving the granules in the sieving device 3 ;

[0077] - Transfer of the sieved granules from the sieved material chamber 23 into the treatment apparatus 4 ;

[0078] - closing the apparatus inlet closure device 49 when the screened granulate has been transferred from the screening chamber 23 into the treatment apparatus 4;

[0079] - Treatment of the sieved granules in the treatment apparatus 4 ;

[0080] - discharging the granulate treated in the treatment apparatus 4 via the discharge device 71;

[0081] - Opening the apparatus inlet closure device 49 when the treated granules from the treatment apparatus have been transferred from the screenings chamber 23 to the treatment apparatus 4 after a granules treatment process or when a new batch is to be treated;

[0082] - Repeat the above steps in any order.

[0083] A granulate production process will now be explained in more detail using the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

[0084] In a first step, the conveying device arrangement 43 designed as a process gas conveying device 44 is started up so that process gas PG is conveyed through the treatment apparatus on the treatment section 53. In this case, the process gas conveying device 44 is a blower 74. At the same time, each granulator inlet closure device 9 is opened to supply the starting materials AS, and the granulator outlet closure device 16 is closed. The granulator 2 is filled with starting materials AS via the at least one granulator inlet 8, and granules are produced.

[0085] While the granules are being produced in the granulator 2, a process gas flow flowing through the treatment apparatus is adjusted via the process gas flow control device 51. By opening the apparatus inlet closure device 49, a negative pressure is generated on the transfer gas conveyor line 52 for conveying the screened granules from the screenings chamber 23 into the treatment apparatus 4, so that ambient air is sucked in as transfer gas via the filter arrangement 34. The physical variable of the transfer gas TG, namely the flow velocity VTG, is recorded on the transfer gas conveyor line 52 and transmitted to the control device 7 for further processing.

[0086] Subsequently, the two granulator inlets 8 for supplying the starting materials AS, in particular each granulator inlet closure device 9, are closed so that no false air can enter the granulate production device.

[0087] The granulator outlet closure device 16 is then opened and the granules are conveyed from the granulator 2 into the screening device 3 by means of the agitator rotor 62. There, the granules are screened and then conveyed as screened granules via the granulate transfer line 6 into the treatment apparatus 4 by means of transfer gas. Before and during the granulate transfer process, the recorded physical variable of the transfer gas is evaluated by the control device 7. For this purpose, the evaluation device 61 compares the recorded physical variable of the transfer gas with a first threshold value 63 stored in the control device. As soon as the value falls below the threshold value 63, a control signal is sent to the agitator drive device 14, which stops the agitator drive device 14. The granulate conveyed into the screening device 3 is conveyed further into the treatment apparatus 4 as screened granulate.Since no more granules are conveyed from the granulator 2, the amount of screened granules on the transfer gas conveying line 52, in particular in the screening device 3 and the granule transfer line 6, decreases and the flow velocity VTG of the transfer gas TG increases again.

[0088] After a predefined interruption time 64 stored in the database 65 of the control device 7, the agitator drive device 14 receives a control signal again and begins discharging the produced granulate from the granulator 2. This sequence of steps is repeated until the granulator 2 is completely emptied.

[0089] Subsequently, the control device 7 sends a control or regulating signal to each granulator inlet closure device 9 for supplying the starting materials AS and to the granulator outlet closure device 16 for closing the same. The granulator 2 is again filled with starting materials AS via the at least one granulator inlet 8, and granules are produced. The steps following the production of the granules in the granulator 2 are also repeated.

[0090] The control device 7 sends to the device inlet -

[0091] Closure device 49 receives a control signal to close it. The screened granulate conveyed into the treatment apparatus 4 is further treated in the treatment apparatus 4 after the apparatus inlet closure device 49 has been closed, for example by coating using the spray device 68, and after its treatment is discharged via the discharge device 71. Both the spray device 68 and the discharge device 71 receive the necessary control and / or regulating signals for this purpose from the control device 7.

[0092] This batch-wise granulate production process is then repeated as often as desired until a required amount of granulate has been produced by the granulate production device 1 .

[0093] A first exemplary method for controlling and / or regulating the agitator drive device 14 is described with reference to the diagram in Fig. 5.

[0094] In the diagram, on the one hand, the speed n of the agitator drive device 14 in revolutions per minute, and thus also of the agitator rotor 62, is plotted against time in seconds and, on the other hand, the flow velocity VTG of the transfer gas in meters per second is plotted against time in seconds.

[0095] At the start of the granulate transfer process, a threshold value 63 for a flow velocity VTG of the transfer gas TG is stored as a physical variable in the control device 7. In the exemplary embodiment, the threshold value 63 for the flow velocity VTG of the transfer gas TG is set at 14 m / s. For the measuring device 54 designed as a measuring device 56, a flow monitor is used which supplies a Boolean signal, i.e. indicates whether the flow velocity VTG of the transfer gas TG is greater or less than the threshold value 63. In the embodiment shown, for example, the flow sensor S I5000 from ifm electronic gmbh.

[0096] For an automated process, the agitator drive device 14 constantly increases its speed n, because a high speed n of the agitator drive device 14 is necessary for the complete emptying of the granulator 2 in one batch. If the threshold value 63 of the flow velocity VTG of the transfer gas TG is undershot, the agitator drive device 14 is stopped so that no more granules are conveyed into the granulate chamber 22. A defined interruption time 64 then elapses until the granulate transfer process, i.e. the agitator drive device 14, is started again. It can be seen that the speed n of the agitator drive device 14 has a sawtooth-like curve over time and the flow velocity VTG, after an initial start-up, has a zigzag curve up to a maximum flow velocity VTG of approximately 19 m / s.These temporal courses can be explained by the granules conveyed into the granulate chamber 23.

[0097] As long as no granulate is conveyed from the granulator 2 into the granulate chamber 23 of the screening device 3, the flow velocity VTG of the transfer gas TG increases up to a maximum velocity. As soon as the conveyance of the granulate from the granulator 2 into the granulate chamber 23 of the screening device 3 begins by starting the agitator drive unit 14, the flow velocity VTG of the transfer gas TG decreases due to the increasing pressure loss on the transfer gas conveying section 52. If the flow velocity VTG of the transfer gas TG falls below the threshold value 63, the agitator drive device 14 is stopped so that no more granulate is conveyed into the granulate chamber 22. The screened granulate located on the transfer conveying section 52 is conveyed by the transfer gas TG into the treatment apparatus 4.As soon as the pressure loss decreases, i.e. there is less and less screened granulate on the transfer conveyor line 52, the flow velocity VTG of the transfer gas TG increases again. When the interruption time 64 expires, the temporal sequence of steps repeats itself. Therefore, as the time period increases, the granulator 2 is completely emptied, so that the speed n of the agitator drive device 14 increases more sharply up to a maximum value, see the last three sawtooth-like cycles 76 of the speed n. At the same time, the flow velocity VTG of the transfer gas TG also increases until a maximum value is reached. By evaluating the two values ​​for the flow velocity VTG and the speed n of the agitator drive device 14, it can be determined when the granulator 2 is emptied.

[0098] After the granulate transfer process, the screened granulate conveyed into the treatment apparatus 4 is treated therein and a further batch of granulate is produced in the granulator 2.

[0099] The detection of the physical size of the transfer gas from the group of volume flow, mass flow or flow velocity VTG , but in particular the flow velocity VTG , thus prevents the transfer gas conveying line from becoming at least partially blocked during the granulate transfer process.

[0100] The diagram in Fig. 6 describes a second exemplary method for controlling and / or regulating the agitator drive device 14. Apart from the changes explained below, the method according to Fig. 6 corresponds to the method according to Fig. 5. In the diagram in Fig. 6 too, after the first threshold value 63a, which corresponds to the threshold value 63 in the diagram in Fig. 5, is undershot, the agitator drive device 14 is stopped by the control device 7. In contrast to the method explained in Fig. 5, in Fig. 6 no interruption time 64 is waited for after the agitator drive device 14 is stopped, but the agitator drive device 14 is started again when the flow velocity VTG as a physical variable exceeds a second threshold value 63b. The flow velocity VTG is set to approximately 17.5 m / s for the second threshold value.After exceeding the threshold value 63b, the rotational speed n of the agitator drive device 14 increases continuously, thereby conveying granules from the granulator 2 into the granule chamber 22 of the screening device 3. Due to the granules clogging both the screen and the granule transfer line 6, thus generating a pressure loss, the flow velocity VTG decreases again until the flow velocity VTG of the transfer gas again falls below the first threshold value 63a. This sequence of steps is repeated until the granulator 2 is emptied.

[0101] The embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 3 are operated batchwise and the embodiment in Fig. 4 is operated quasi-continuously.

Claims

Claims 1. Granule production device (1), with a granulator (2) having an agitator (13) driven by an agitator drive device (14), which has at least one granulator inlet (8) for supplying the starting materials (AS), with a screening device (3) connected to the granulator (2) via a granulate feed line (5), which has a screening chamber (20) delimited by a screen housing (19), which is divided by a screen (21) into a granulate chamber (22) for receiving the granulate discharged from the granulator (2) and a screening material chamber (23) for receiving the screened granulate, wherein the screening material chamber (23) is connected to a transfer gas supply line (33) having a supply line inlet (32), and with a granulate transfer line (6) having a transfer line outlet (38) to the Screening chamber (23) of the screening device (3) connected treatment apparatus (4) which has a treatment chamber (39),which can be flowed through by a process gas (PG) conveyed by a conveying device arrangement (43) on a treatment section (53) from a treatment chamber inlet (72) to a treatment chamber outlet (73), and wherein a transfer gas (TG) can be conveyed by the conveying device arrangement (43) on a transfer gas conveying section (52) extending from the supply line inlet (32) to the transfer line outlet (38), which is further suitable for conveying the screened granulate by means of the transfer gas (TG) via the granulate transfer line (6) from the, screening material chamber (23) of the screening device (3) into the treatment chamber (39) of the treatment apparatus (4), characterized in that the granulation generation device (1) has a measuring device (54) which is suitable for detecting a physical variable of the transfer gas (TG) from the group of volume flow, mass flow or flow velocity (v) on the transfer gas conveying section (52).

2. Granulation production device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the measuring device (54) has a measuring device (56) for detecting the physical size of the transfer gas (TG) on the transfer gas conveying section (52), expediently arranged on a transfer gas conveying section section (55) associated with the transfer gas supply line (33).

3. Granule production device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the measuring device (56) is designed as a thermal mass flow meter, as a Coriolis flow meter, as a magnetic-inductive flow meter, an ultrasonic flow meter, as a vortex flow meter, as a differential pressure meter or as a flow monitor.

4. Granulation production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the granulator (2) is designed as a mixing granulator (66).

5. Granulation production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear drive device (14) has a substantially constant drive torque over its speed range.

6. Granulation production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sieve body (24) is arranged in the granulate chamber (22) of the sieve device (3) in order to convey the granulate from the granulate chamber (22) through the sieve (21) into the sieved material chamber (23), wherein the sieve body (24) is expediently driven by a sieve body drive device designed as a motor (25) (26) can be driven.

7. Granulation production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the screening material chamber (23) of the screening device (3) a rotor disc (27) is arranged, which can expediently be driven via a rotor disk drive device (29) designed as a motor (28).

8. Granulation production device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the rotor disc (27) is arranged in the region (30) of a screening material chamber bottom (31).

9. Granulation production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer gas supply line (33) is arranged in particular tangentially on a side wall (36) of the sieve housing (19).

10. Granulation production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the granulate transfer line (6) is arranged in particular tangentially on a side wall (36) of the sieve housing (19).

11. Granulation generation device (19) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the granulate transfer line (6) is arranged above the transfer gas supply line (33) on the sieve housing (19).

12. Granulation production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer gas supply line (33) has a filter arrangement (34) at a supply line inlet (32), which is expediently designed as a HEPA filter (35).

13. Granulation production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer gas supply line (33) is connected to a process gas supply line (46), so that process gas (PG) can be used as the transfer gas (TG).

14. Granulation production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the treatment apparatus (4) is designed as a coating apparatus (40) or as a fluidization apparatus (41).

15. Granulation production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying device arrangement (43) has a process gas conveying device (44) and / or a transfer gas conveying device (45).

16. Granulation production device (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that the process gas conveying device (44) is arranged in a process gas supply line (46) upstream of the treatment apparatus (4) and / or a process gas discharge line (47) downstream of the treatment apparatus (4).

17. Granulation production device (1) according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the transfer gas conveying device (45) is arranged in the transfer gas supply line (33).

18. Granule production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the granulation production device (1) has a control device (7) which expediently has a control functionality and which controls and / or regulates the granulator (2) taking into account the detected physical variable of the transfer gas (TG).

19. Granule production device (1) according to claim 18, characterized in that the control device (7) controls and / or regulates the agitator drive device (14) and / or a granulator outlet closure device (16).

20. Granule production device (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that the control device (7) is configured to set a rotational speed (n) of the agitator drive device (14) and / or to open or close the granulator outlet closure device (16).

21. Granulation production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the treatment apparatus (4) has an apparatus inlet closure device (49).

22. Granulation production device (1) according to one of claims 18 to 20 and claim 21, characterized in that the control device (7) controls and / or regulates the apparatus inlet closure device (49).

23. Granulation production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the treatment apparatus (4) has a process gas supply line (46) in which a process gas flow control device (51) is arranged.

24. Granulation production device (1) according to one of claims 18 to 20 and claim 23, characterized in that the control device (7) controls and / or regulates the process gas flow control device (51).

25. Granule production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the granulation production device (1) has a plurality of treatment apparatuses (4) and a plurality of granulate transfer lines (6), each treatment apparatus (4) being connected to the screening device (7) by a granulate transfer line (6) in order to achieve a quasi-continuous granulate production process.

26. Method for controlling and / or regulating a granulate production device (1), with a granulator (2) having an agitator (13) driven by an agitator drive device (14), which has at least one granulator inlet (8) for supplying the starting materials (AS), with a screening device (3) connected to the granulator (2) via a granulate feed line (5), which has a screening chamber (20) delimited by a screen housing (19) and divided by a screen (21) into a granulate chamber (22) for receiving the granulate discharged from the granulator (2) and a screening chamber (23) for receiving the screened granulate, wherein the screening chamber (23) is connected to a transfer gas feed line (33) having a feed line inlet (32), and with a Granule transfer line (6) to the screening chamber (23) of the screening device (3) connected treatment apparatus (4),the one, Treatment chamber (39) through which a process gas (PG) conveyed by a conveying device arrangement (43) flows on a treatment section (53) from a treatment chamber inlet (72) to a treatment chamber outlet (73), and wherein a transfer gas (TG) is conveyed by the conveying device arrangement (43) on a transfer gas conveying section (52) extending from the supply line inlet (32) to the transfer line outlet (38), which is further suitable for conveying the screened granules by means of the transfer gas (TG) via the granule transfer line (6) from the screening material chamber (23) of the screening device (3) into the treatment chamber (39) of the treatment apparatus (4), characterized in that the granulation generation device (1) has a measuring device (54) which, during a granule transfer process, measures a physical variable of the transfer gas (TG) from the group of volume flow,Mass flow or flow velocity (v) on the transfer gas conveying line (52) is recorded., 27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the method is carried out as a batch process.

28. Method according to claim 26 or claim 27, characterized in that the granulation generation device (1) has a control device (7) expediently having a control functionality, to which the detected physical variable is transmitted for further processing, expediently during the granulate transfer process.

29. Method according to claim 28, characterized in that the control device (7) has an evaluation device (61) which, taking into account the detected physical quantity of the transfer gas (TG), carries out further processing the recorded physical quantity of the transfer gas (TG).

30. Method according to claim 28 or 29, characterized in that the treatment apparatus (4) has an apparatus inlet closure device (49), wherein the control device (7) controls and / or regulates the apparatus inlet closure device (49) before the granulate transfer process, so that it is moved from a closed position into an open position.

31. Method according to one of claims 28 to 30, characterized in that the treatment apparatus (4) has a process gas supply line (46) in which a process gas flow control device (51) is arranged, wherein the control device (7) controls and / or regulates the process gas flow control device (14) before and / or during the granulate transfer process, so that a negative pressure is formed on the transfer gas conveying path (52) for conveying the screened granulate from the screening material chamber (23) into the treatment apparatus (4).

32. Method according to one of claims 28 to 31, characterized in that the control device (7) during the further processing of the detected physical quantity of the transfer gas (TG) carries out a comparison with a first threshold value (63a) stored in the control device (7) for the physical quantity in order to control and / or regulate the granulate production device (1) by the control device (7) sending a control and / or regulating signal to an agitator drive device (14) and / or granulator outlet closure device (16) in order to set a speed (n) of the agitator drive device (14) and / or the To open or close the granulator outlet closure device (16).

33. Method according to claim 32, characterized in that the rotational speed (n) of the agitator drive device (14) increases continuously over time during the granulate transfer process.

34. Method according to claim 32 or 33, characterized in that when the first threshold value (63a) for the transport gas (TG) is undershot, the agitator drive device (14) is stopped and / or a granulator outlet closure device (16) is closed.

35. Method according to claim 34, characterized in that the control device (7) carries out a comparison with a second threshold value (63b) for the physical quantity stored in the control device during the further processing of the detected physical quantity of the transfer gas (TG), wherein when a second threshold value (63b) for the transport gas (TG) is exceeded, the agitator drive device (14) is started and / or a granulator outlet closure device (16) is opened.

36. Method according to claim 34, characterized in that an interruption time (64) is stored in the control device (7), after the expiry of which the agitator drive device (14) is started and / or a granulator outlet closure device (16) is opened.

37. Method according to one of claims 26 to 36, characterized in that before or during a granulate transfer process, the at least one granulator inlet (8) for supplying the starting materials (AS) is closed, so that a False air cannot enter the granulate production device (1).

38. Method according to one of claims 26 to 37, characterized in that the granulation production device (1) has a plurality of treatment apparatuses (4) and a plurality of granulate transfer lines (6), each treatment apparatus (4) being connected to the screening device (3) by a granulate transfer line (6) in order to carry out a quasi-continuous granulate production process.

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